Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio Elected Pope

Roman Catholic cardinals elected Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who will be known as Pope Francis I, to lead the church Wednesday.

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel ahead of the announcement, which followed two days of secret voting at the Vatican to replace Benedict XVI of Germany.

Francis, 76, is the first non-European to be selected in modern times and the first South American pope, according to cnn.com.

He reportedly received the second-most votes after predecessor Joseph Ratzinger in 2005, USA TODAY reports.

"Bergoglio never lived in the ornate church mansion in Buenos Aires, preferring a simple bed in a downtown room heated by a small stove," the news website says. "For years, he took public transportation around the city and cooked his own meals."

Bergoglio leans to the conservative side on doctrinal and spiritual issues, opposes abortion and supports celibacy among priests, according to the Washington Post.

Kelly Cyrus Berry expressed optimism about the new pope Wednesday on the Fenton Patch Facebook page.

"Sounds like he is going to be a good one to me!" she wrote. "A glorious day in Rome!"

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